Keshav Jain

Keshav Jain

  • Joined: December 22, 2023
  • Articles: 23224

What’s a living fossil?

Living fossils are those species that have retained the same form over millions of years. They have few or no living relatives. Most of these animals have changed relatively little since their origins.

Did you know that some archaic species that lived millions of years ago have survived for a long time and still live alongside us? The anatomy of these species has remained unchanged and these relics of the past are called living fossils.

The term “living fossil” refers to those species that have retained the same form over millions of years. They have few or no living relatives. Most of these animals have changed relatively little since their origins. They have often survived several mass extinctions.

It was English naturalist Charles Darwin who introduced the concept of a “living fossil”. He coined the term in his book On the Origin of Species (1859). He described them as species that are still in existence but belonging to an old lineage. While most species have been evolving, these underwent slow rates of evolution. The appearance of these are mostly unchanged from their extinct fossil relatives.

They have survived from an earlier period or in a primitive form, have long-enduring lineages and also belong to a group with low diversity. Their DNA has hardly changed in millions of years.

Some examples of living fossils include coelacanths, horseshoe crabs, tuataras, komodo dragon, aardvark, red panda, nautilus and purple frog. The tree Ginkgo biloba is the only living species of its group. It dates back almost 300 million years in the fossil record.

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Who are anti-heroes?

Anti-heroes are those characters in a story who do not neatly fit the hero or villain template. They are not the typical heroes we cheer for, nor are they the clear-cut bad guys. Instead, they are a blend of both, and that’s what makes them intriguing. They are complex, like real people with strengths and flaws. They might have noble intentions, but their methods can be questionable. Unlike the villains who just want to create chaos, anti-heroes have a unique charm due to their shades of grey.

In literary classics, Heathcliff from English novelist Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights epitomises the anti-hero. His all-consuming rage, jealousy, passionate love, and tortured soul blur the lines between right and wrong. Likewise, Jay Gatsby in American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby strives for the American Dream, yet his questionable dealings and obsession undermine his noble pursuits. Children’s literature too embraces anti-heroes. Consider the Grinch in American writer Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! His journey from bitter isolation to redemption showcases his complexity. Even Severus Snape from British writer J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, with his abrasive exterior and concealed motivations, is a prime example. Anti-heroes bring out the complexity of human nature in stories. They challenge the common pattern of good versus evil. While villains embody darkness and challenge the hero, anti-heroes show us both sides of the coin. Their journey is one of self-discovery, and they help us as readers reflect on the fact that people are not one-dimensional. Instead, they carry a mix of both good and bad traits.

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On the trail of a snail?

The discoveries highlight how little we know about the smallest organisms and their biology

In 2022, a new species of land snail was discovered in Vietnam. It is the smallest known land snail on Earth, measuring the size of a grain of sand the scientific name of the recont-holder is Angustopila psammion which is derived from the Greek word for “grain of sand In 2015, Aonella nana a land snail found in Borneo, held the record for the world’s smallest land snail. The newly discovered species, a psammian has similar body dimensions but a smaller shell.

Another species. Angustopila coprologos was discovered in northem Laos and is slightly larger than a mammion. The shell of a coprologos is covered in pointy projections adorned with mud-like beads, which led researchers to speculate that it gathers fecal pellets on its shell to send biochemical information to other snails or to prevent drying out.

The discoveries highlight how little we know about the smallest organisms and their biology. The snails small size allows them to elude predators, but it presents challenges when producing eggs and fitting organs into their tiny bodies

There are some marine snails that are even tinier than these two newly discovered species. These sea snails can survive being so small because they do not risk drying out which is one of the primary downsides of being so small But as the size of a snall decreases, the ratio of its body’s surface area to volume goes up making it easier for water to evaporate. As snails must extend their moist bodies antsude their shells to move, they are especially vulnerable to drying out.

This risk of drying out may limit the evolution of the smallest land snails to certain regions with a stable climate or specific habitats such as caves where Juunidity remains high all year round. Some manne snails eject eggs and sperm into the water column, where most development occurs. Researchers are eager to learn more about these snails, such as their diet and what preys on them. There could be ting mites or millipedes yet to be discoverest, that snack on the snails. Ants or pseudoscorpions could be potential predators as well.

The research highlights the importance of tabamong which is the process of describing new species and where they fit into the tree of life. Despite not receiving much publicity, it remains crucial for inology and other branches of science. Taxonomists certainly play a vital role in identifying plants. fungi and animals. Without them, the scientific community would not know what they are dealing with.

Picture Credit : Google

Naming planetary objects?

On August 23, India celebrated a technological triumph when Chandrayaan-3 landed near the Moon’s South Pole at 6:04 p.m. Since then, there has been a discussion on the naming of the landing spot, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed Shiv Shakti.

Do you know how are planetary objects are usually named?

International Astronomical Union             

The International Astronomical Union (IAU), founded in 1919, is responsible for assigning names to celestial bodies and surface features on them. In the IAU, there are numerous Working Groups that suggest the names of astronomical objects and features.

In 1982, the United Nations, at its ‘Fourth Conference on the Standardisation of Geographical Names held in Geneva, recognised the role of the IAU by adopting its resolution on extraterrestrial feature names.

Key rules

The IAU has set some rules for naming planetary objects. Some of the most important rules are -the names should be simple, clear, and unambiguous; there should not be duplication of names; no names having political, military or religious significance may be used, except for names of political figures prior to the 19th Century; and if a name of a person is suggested, then he/she must have been deceased for at least three years, before a proposal may be submitted.

Process of naming

When the first images of the surface of a planet or satellite are obtained, themes for naming features are chosen and names of a few important features are proposed, usually by members of the appropriate IAU Working Group. However, there is no guarantee that the name will be accepted.

Names reviewed by an IAU Working Group are submitted by the group’s chairperson to the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). After this, the members of the WGPSN vote on the names.

The names approved by the WGPSN members are considered as official IAU nomenclature and can be used on maps and in publications. The approved names are then entered into the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature, and posted on the website of IAU.

Objections

If there are any objections to the proposed names, an application has to be sent to the IAU general secretary within three months from the time the name was placed on the website. The general secretary will make a recommendation to the WGPSN Chair as to whether or not the approved name(s) should be reconsidered.

 In 1966, the Outer Space Treaty was formed by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to set rules for international space law. One of the key aspects of this treaty was that the outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use by all states without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies.

Picture Credit : Google

 

In a tearing hurry?

Climate change is making hurricanes wetter, windier and altogether more intense. There is also evidence that it is causing storms to travel more slowly, meaning they can dump more water in one place.

If it were not for the oceans, the planet would be much hotter due to climate change. But in the last 40 years, the ocean has absorbed about 90% of the warming caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. Much of this ocean heat is contained near the water’s surface. This additional heat can fuel a storm’s intensity and power stronger winds.

Climate change can also boost the amount of rainfall delivered by a storm. Because a warmer atmosphere can also hold more moisture, water vapour builds up until clouds break, sending down heavy rain. During the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season-one of the most active on record – climate change boosted hourly rainfall rates in hurricane-force storms by 8%-11%, according to an April 2022 study in the journal Nature Communications.

The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. Scientists at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration This image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Idalia making landfall in Florida on August 30, 2023. AFP (NOAA) expect that, at 2 degrees Celsius of warming, hurricane wind speeds could increase by up to 10%. NOAA also projects the proportion of hurricanes that reach the most intense levels Category 4 or 5- could rise by about 10% this century. To date, less than a fifth of storms have reached this intensity since 1851.

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Rodgers and his flight across the U.S.?

On September 17, 1911, Calbraith Perry Rodgers took off from Sheepshead Bay in Long Island, New York. On December 10, 1911, he landed in Long Beach, California and completed the world’s first transcontinental flight. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at aviation pioneer Rodgers and his pathbreaking flight…

The aviation industry has transformed the way we think about travel. Getting from one point of Earth to another has never been so easy. If we come to think of the fact that the Wright brothers had their first successful flight only at the start of the 20th Century, it puts into perspective the tremendous growth over the last century or SO.

There were a number of firsts in those early days of aviation as the world of air travel was literally begging to be unlocked. There were aviation pioneers and daredevils who managed these firsts, and sometimes they were rolled into one. One of those was an American who became the first to fly solo across the US.. Calbraith Perry Rodgers.

Rich family history                                                                                                                        

Rodgers was born in Pittsburgh on January 12, 1879 into a family with a rich history of the U.S. Navy service. There were generations of adventurers that bore the name “Perry” and “Rodgers” who had achieved success across different fields – be it victory over a British Naval fleet or establishing trade between Japan and America through sheer persistence.

Rodgers was named after his father, a captain in the U.S. Army, who had died five months before his birth. He grew up with his mother Maria Wightman Rodgers and his grandparents and was drawn to all things mechanical from a very young age. At six however, he had a severe bout of scarlet fever, leaving him nearly deaf and ineligible for military service.

Desire for adventure

 While the deafness meant that he lacked interest in academics, he was always interested in physical activities and excelled at it. He didn’t let his deafness deter his desire for adventure, and spent a lot of his early adulthood sailing and racing cars and horses.

For someone who became the first to fly solo across the U.S. in 1911, Rodgers was introduced to flying only that year! John Rodgers, Calbraith’s cousin who would go on to become a naval aviation pioneer and set the record of longest non-stop flight hu caanlane of 3 205 km. in1925, told him that “for speed, you can’t beat flying!”

Rodgers immediately made a trip to Dayton, Ohio and was instantly hooked after doing some basic aeronautics exploration.

Like a fish to water

Within a week after starting his classes at the school, Rodgers requested permission for a solo flight. Since he was denied owing to lack of training, Rodgers went on to purchase his own training plane. Rodgers made his first solo flight on June 12 and by August 7, he passed the flying examination to become the 49th licensed aviator in the world.

Spurred on by his success, Rodgers began to take an interest in competing for the Hearst Prize. Publisher and newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst offered a $50,000 prize for the first person to completely fly across the U.S. in fewer than 30 days.

Orville questions decision

Rodgers purchased a lightweight, four-cylinder, 35-horsepower Model EX biplane from the Wright Company on September 10. When Rodgers had told Orville of his intention to compete for the Hearst Prize, the latter questioned his decision and doubted any plane of that time to travel so far.

Rodgers, however, pressed on. He sought a corporate sponsor to help him financially and got it from Armour Meat-Packing Co., which was promoting Vin Fiz, its new grape soda. Rodgers’ biplane thus served as a flying billboard for the product and was dubbed The Vin Fiz.

With the objective of reaching the Pacific Ocean in 30 days, Rodgers set out from Sheepshead Bay in Long Island on September 17. With a train to follow his progress and carry all things required for repair and maintenance, Rodgers had charted out his course from start to finish with a target of 250 miles a day.

While the first landing went without incident, there were plenty after that right from the second take-off. In addition to technical and mechanical obstacles, the weather too played spoilsport. Lack of reliable weather forecasting to go along with his impaired hearing meant that he couldn’t make informed decisions, be it for navigation or those in relation to take-off and landing times.

Popular with public by the time he reached Chicago on October 8, it was clear to him that the 30-day goal was impossible to achieve. He had, however, caught the imagination of the American public by now, and was determined to successfully finish his trip. After 15 crash landings and nearly 70 rough take-offs and landings, Rodgers landed in Long Beach, California on December 10 and taxied his plane into the Pacific Ocean.

While Rodgers’ in-flight time was just three days, 10 hours and four minutes, his total flying trip spanned across 49 days with plenty more spent on the ground for various reasons. He became an instant celebrity having achieved this feat, but died just five months later in a plane crash during an exhibition flight after striking one of a flock of birds.

In addition to being the first human to fly across the North American continent, Rodgers flight is significant as it introduced commercial air travel and advertising and also helped the aviation industry capture the interest of the society at large. Rodgers’ Vin Fiz is on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

Picture Credit : Google

What is lateral thinking?

Explore the techniques and insights that can liberate your mind from traditional thought patterns and ignite creativity.

Last Friday, during the Founders Day celebration, the guest speaker emphasised the importance of nurturing students creativity and critical thinking skills. He briefly touched upon the concept of lateral thinking, popularised by Maltese physician and psychologist Edward de Bono, which piqued the interest of some attendees. To delve deeper into this intriguing concept, they invited Anish’s father, a writer for a neighbourhood newspaper, to share some key insights.

Thinking is a skill

Anish’s father commenced his presentation by introducing Edward de Bono’s renowned book, Lateral Thinking Creativity Step by Step. This book, among the author’s prolific output of over 70 titles, stood out as the most popular. Two other notable works by de Bono, Six Thinking Hats and Parallel Thinking, were also mentioned. Importantly, de Bono was credited with being a pioneer in introducing the subject of thinking in schools. The central focus of the authors work, as explained by the speaker, revolved around the distinction between two types of thinking thinking and lateral thinking. To set the stage, the speaker clarified what thinking is, emphasising that, according to de Bono, thinking is a skill that can be developed and improved. This definition helped in dispelling the notion that it was a cognitive skill reserved for a select few.

Vertical thinking and lateral thinking

Vertical thinking, as defined by de Bono, is linear, sequential, and logical thinking that progresses from step A to step B to step C. It adheres to established pathways. insisting that each step is correct. While effective, de Bono sees it as an incomplete process and criticises the education system for predominantly promoting vertical thinking.

In stark contrast, lateral thinking. as envisioned by de Bono, is non-linear, imaginative, and unconventional. It involves looking at problems from different angles and generating new ideas by breaking free from conventional thinking patterns. The speaker cited de Bono’s statement. “You cannot dig a hole in a different place by digging the same hole deeper,” to illustrate the difference between vertical and lateral thinking.

The differences

De Bono dedicated an entire chapter to distinguishing these two forms of thinking. highlighting their differences. such as selectiveness vs. generality. analysis vs. provocation. sequential vs. jumps, and the requirement for correctness at every step vs. a probabilistic approach. De Bono stressed that both forms of thinking are not antagonistic but complementary. To make lateral thinking accessible to all, de Bono emphasised that it was not a magical system but could be adopted in a practical and deliberate manner.

How to develop lateral thinking?

He presented various techniques for developing lateral thinking. including generating alternatives, challenging assumptions.

suspending judgments, exploring different approaches, using the reversal method to trace idea development and engaging in brainstorming for cross-stimulation of ideas. Lateral thinking is particularly crucial in liberating the mind from rigid educational patterns. The realisation of the distinctions between vertical and lateral thinking can empower individuals to use them effectively. Engaging in activities like riddles, word games, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or brain teasers can help train the brain to think laterally, the speaker noted He concluded his speech by quoting from the book’s preface, suggesting that it should be worked through slowly over an extended period, making it a must-read for everyone.

Picture Credit : Google

Why is google’s default’ status in trouble?

Riding the tide of in-built advantage

When we buy a new smartphone, It usually comes loaded with Google apps, including Chrome, YouTube, and Gmail among others. Turns out Alphabet-the company that owns Google-pays phone makers millions of dollars to make Google the default search engine in their gadgets. Google’s competitors are upset about this arrangement. It is no wonder, as most of us do not care to go to the settings and swap Google out for Bing or DuckDuckGo.

The issue sparked concerns of unfair trade practices in the U.S. and the Justice Department there filed a case in December 2020. The case was filed by the Attorney Generals of eleven States, as they felt Google was acting like a monopoly. Currently, the case has turned into the largest antitrust trial that the U.S. has witnessed in the Past 25 years. District Judge Amit Mehta’s decisions can impact the way all of us use the most popular search engine in the world-even in India.

Is the search engine business a monopoly?

The US. court is investigating if Google is running an illegal monopoly in the search engine business. Google’s search engine has earned a huge market share ever since it started presenting people with helpful information culled from billions of websites that have been indexed since former Stanford University graduate students Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed the technology during the late 1990s.

Today, Alphabet’s market value is around a whopping $1.37 trillion. However, there are several other companies in the fray of the search engine business, though most of them may be unheard of and unknown to large sections of internet users. According to statistics, of all internet users, a massive 91.85 percent use Google. Next comes Bing, from Windows, with just 3.01 of percent people using it. The remaining 5 percent of users use one of the many other companies, such as Yahoo, Yandex, Baidu, DuckDuckGo.

If the U.S. court rules against Google, it could open the market up for new online avenues for consumers and businesses to explore in pursuit of information, entertainment and commerce. This may end up improving the quality of online services for consumers.

Picture Credit : Google

What is molecular gastronomy?

 

Trained chefs can blend science into the art of cooking to create delightful experiences for the taste buds and all the other senses too.

Molecular gastronomy is a modern style of cooking in which chefs use scientific principles and technology to enhance the flavours and alter the textures of food items. The term molecular gastronomy was coined by Hungarian physicist Nicholas Kurti and French chemist Herve in the 1980s. To practise the techniques of molecular gastronomy. chefs have to be specially trained one of the well-known techniques is spherification. It is the process of shaping a liquid such as fruit juice

A DISH TO BE JUDGED BY ITS COVER The packet of nuts in this chutney-soaked savoury is to be eaten along with its plastic wrapper, called ‘obulato’ in Japanese. The liquid is first mixed with sodium alginate, a chemical. This mixture is then dripped, drop by drop, into a bowl of a cold solution of calcium chloride. Each drop turns into a small ball, called a ‘caviar.

When popped into the mouth, these fruit caviars crumble and crackle on the taste buds, delivering an intense mouthfeel. Using liquid nitrogen to freeze dishes instantly is another technique.

Liquid nitrogen has a temperature of -196°C (321°F). When used in ice cream, the mixture freezes very quickly. This reduces the formation of ice crystals, resulting in a creamier ice cream.

Coats and capsules

Special types of foams can also be created with this technique. Traditionally. foams are made with a whisk or an espresso machine (to make coffee froth). But in molecular gastronomy, the substance to be foamed is usually mixed with a stabiliser such as lecithin and then squeezed out through a whipped cream can fitted with a nitrogen oxide capsule. Using this method, chefs can make truffle foam as a topping for a meat dish or pickle foam as a spicy coating for curd rice.

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Is Veganism more than a dietary choice?

Early humans were hunter-gatherers. Civilisations, the discovery of fire, the invention of agriculture, and domestication of animals slowly changed our eating pattems. At some point, sections of people started eliminating meat from their diets, for various reasons ranging from religious beliefs to taking a stance against animal cruelty. Eventually, people realised that meat wasn’t the only point of concem. Industries such as dairy, silk, and leather also tend to inflict violence and cruelty on animals. This realisation mobilised people to begin one of the largest movements of the modem world-veganism.

How it began

November 1 is World Vegan Day, which celebrates a lifestyle that is devoid of animal products like honey. cheese, wool, leather, and pearls apart from the obvious meat, eggs, and milk. While vegetarianism has been around for a long time in India and some Mediterranean societies, the term veganism, which denotes a much stricter form. This vegan leather bag is made out of pineapple’s peel coined in 1944 by British woodworker Donald Watson. It is also believed that the famous Greek mathematician Pythagoras adhered to a vegetarian diet and promoted compassion towards animals.

Watson was troubled by the outbreak of tuberculosis that affected farm animals in 1943. He proclaimed that a vegan diet could save people from such communicable illnesses. He also started a vegan newsletter that initially just had 25 subscribers. However, by the time he died in 2005, at the age of 95, over 2.50,000 people in the UK and 2 million people in the US had identified as vegans. Watson attributed his long life to his vegan lifestyle.

Long before Watson, in the 1850s, the man behind the ubiquitous Graham Crackers, Sylvester Graham, began a dietary reform in the U.S. His diet promoted meatless meals, wholegrain and home-baked breads, fresh fruits, and vegetables. His ideas were so rebellious back in the day that he was met with protests and attacks wherever he went. He was attacked in Boston by bakers for calling out the ill-effect of refined flour. Since then, science has indubitably proved that refined flour is bad for health.

Options galore

Today, veganism is a globally accepted concept. There are = restaurants serving exclusively vegan food in many Indian cities. As a result, the choices and options have also diversified. Milk extracted from soybeans and nuts like almonds have replaced dairy in the vegan menus. Mock meats-made out of yam and unripe jackfruit-have helped meat-eaters latch on to veganism.

However, one needs to be carefid while switching over to a vegan diet to ensure that there is no nutrient loss in the process. Often, Vitamin B12. Iron, and Calcium deficiencies have been noticed by researchers in people who switch over to a vegan diet. Experts, hence, suggest people who have switched over to a this diet to diversify their food intake within the options available to avoid complications. The vegan movement has also come under criticism- especially in the West-for being elitist and expensive. The processed vegan foods-like mock meats-are also accused of being high on carbon emissions. This negates the fact that many initial founders of the collective movement like Graham, stood against processed foods as much as they opposed meat eating. In the end, it is all about eating what suits you best and respecting the choices of others.

Early humans were hunter-gatherers. Civilisations, the discovery of fire, the invention of agriculture, and domestication of animals slowly changed our eating pattems. At some point, sections of people started eliminating meat from their diets, for various reasons ranging from religious beliefs to taking a stance against animal cruelty. Eventually, people realised that meat wasn’t the only point of concem. Industries such as dairy, silk, and leather also tend to inflict violence and cruelty on animals. This realisation mobilised people to begin one of the largest movements of the modem world-veganism.

Picture Credit : Google